A rare breed with no major recognitions from kennel clubs, the Shiloh Shepherd dog is under development. Although appearing similar to German Shepherds, Shiloh shepherds have a larger and straighter back. Characterized with a broad and domed head, strong cheekbones, a tapering muzzle and an overall heavy appearance the dog works as service assistance, livestock guardians, as well as search-and-rescue dogs.
Nicknames | Shilohs |
Coat | Two varieties: Smooth, medium-length, thick double coat with harsh outer coat; medium-length plush coat with a distinct mane and a dense undercoat. |
Color | Black with reddish tan, golden tan, sable, or silver; also solid white, solid black, solid golden, dark grey, dark brown, red, silver are possible. |
Breed Type | Cross breed |
Group of Breed | Herding |
Life span | 12-14 years |
Weight | Male 45-59 kg (100-130 lb); Female 36-45 kg (80-100 lb) |
Size and Height | 66-76 cm (26-30 inches) |
Shedding | Constant, Seasonal |
Temperament | Courageous, Loving, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective |
Good with Children | Yes |
Size of Litter | 5-10 puppies |
Hypoallergenic | No |
Barking | Occasionally |
Country Originated in | The United States |
Competitive Registration | DRA, ISSR, APRI, NSBR, TSSR, ARBA, SSBA, NKC |
Being active in breed shows, Tina M. Barber, an American breeder had been breeding the German Shepherds since 1960. During the 70s, she focused on breeding very large, old-style Shepherds. She separated the dog breed from AKC in 1990 and started maintaining registry information as Shiloh Shepherds, seemingly, a crossbred between German Shepherd and Alaskan Malamute.
Being friendly and loyal, shilohs are easily bred as companion dogs. Although they are good with children and other animals, they possess a trainable desire for herding, obedience, assistive servicer, and other working applications. The socialization skills of this stable breed help them adapt to different environments. These calm, confident, responsive dogs make good watchdogs.
To build a healthy relationship with the shiloh shepherd, appropriate training methods focusing on the following rules should be adopted:
A method that combines both force-food and positive-reinforcement procedures can be employed by the trainers. Non-food objects act as reinforcers, tending to vary from dog to dog. Food objects should be used for recognition or as a lure.
Shilohs should be fed with high quality dry food along with a proper mix of cooked eggs, cottage cheese, vegetables, fruits, canned food, and fresh water. Limit branded puppy food and people food because they can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, obesity, as well as teeth concerns. Provide them with plenty of water along with proper shelter on both hot and cold days.
Points of Difference | Shiloh Shepherd | German Shepherd |
Common Names | Shilohs | Alsatian Wolfdog, Alsatian, GSD, Berger Allemand, Schaferhund |
Coat | Smooth thick double coat with harsh outer coat in one variety; plush coat with a distinct mane and a dense undercoat in another variety | Dense, medium-length double coat |
Color | Silver, White, Gray, Golden, Black and Tan, Black | Normally Red/Black and Tan/Black |
Group | Herding | Herding, Working |
Height | 66-76 cm (26-30 inches) | 55-66 cm (22-26 inches) |
Weight | Male 45-59 kg (100-130 lb); Female 36-45 kg (80-100 lb) | Male 30-40 kg (66-88 lb); Female 22-32 kg (49-71 lb) |
Temperament | Courageous, Loving, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective | Intelligent, Courageous, Confident, Loyal, Obedient, Curious, Alert, Watchful |
Good with child | Yes | Yes |
Size of Litter | 5-10 puppies | 4-9 puppies |
Life Expectancy | 12-14 years | 10-12 years |
Country Originated in | The United States | Germany |